CML round-up: Hucknall Town see off leaders Sherwood to go top

The clash between the top two in the Black Dragon Badges South Division went decisively in favour of Hucknall Town, who registered their fifth successive win by four clear goals over Sherwood Colliery.
Football RumoursFootball Rumours
Football Rumours

This gives them a two point cushion at the top of the table.

Michael Banister gave the home side a sixth minute lead, which Leon Aikman doubled after a quarter of an hour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Goals in the last five minutes from Kajally Danso and Nathan Francis completed a good day for Hucknall manager Andy Graves said: “I asked for a good tempo from the start today and pressing as well as we did put them on the back foot and it was crucial in doing so that we converted our chances in this period, which we did.

“I said at half-time two nil always gives a false sense of security and we needed discipline.

“We probably dropped too deep and countered rather than in the first half when we were more on the front foot. This was partly due to tiring as several lads were short of match fitness.

“They are a more than competent side and I marked them down as title contenders last season when they were all at Bilsthorpe so knew their pedigree and I have respect for their manager in the way they play football on the floor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Jimmy made two good saves when they had their spell of pressure and at this level chances will come either end.

“It’s pleasing for us is that we are not relying on out and out strikers for goals as they are coming from defenders and midfielders and we create a lot of chances which is a big positive.”

Eastwood Community rise to second on goal difference, though by their own admission the 4-1 win at Blidworth Welfare didn’t tell the whole story.

In a well-fought game, the difference was in the finishing, Danny Gill and Matt Brian both scoring twice for the visitors, Max Curzon getting Blidworth’s reply.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Friday night football made its debut at Pinxton, with a crowd estimated at over a hundred seeing the home team triumph over Linby Colliery by two goals to one.

Julian Topliss’ two goals gave Pinxton the edge, Kaylum Mitchell scoring late on for Linby. Matlock Town Reserves go level with Sherwood after a 5-1 defeat of struggling Mickleover RBL. Scorers for Matlock were Alex Hewitt with two, Dave Edge, Lewis Brown and Matt Wilkinson. Belper United made the short trip to Holbrook St Michaels, returning with a 4-1 scoreline in their favour. Sam Vickers (2), Matt Brittle and Micky Dunne were among the goals for Belper, with Fen Butcher getting one for Holbrook.

Selston had their match against Keyworth United sewn up by the interval, as they helped themselves to four first half goals. Aaron Brady scored twice, Carl Moore and Tom Widdowson adding a goal apiece.

A Goran Seymour penalty and an own goal put the visitors back in contention, but Brady completed his hat trick to guarantee maximum points.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hucknall Rolls Leisure were another team to score five as they beat bottom markers Southwell City 5-3 at Bishops Drive.

Robbie Manners and Jack Smith both scored twice for Rolls with Harry Allen also scoring, the Minstermen opening their goalscoring account for the season with two from Jonny Upton and one for Dan Gleeson.

Swanwick Pentrich Road were 2-0 winners at Clay Cross Town, Shane Whitmore and Richard Wall on target.

Two of the front runners in the Black Dragon Badges North Division came to grief, as both Thorne Colliery and Harworth Colliery were well beaten.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There was no sign of what was to come at Hall Corner as Harworth led Glapwell 3-2 at half-time. Josh Parfitt gave Glapwell a two goal lead, but the home side were pegged back as the visitors went in front through Josh Dickinson, Tom Pick and Tommy Durrant.

That was how it stood until the hour mark when the floodgates opened, Glapwell adding six more in the last half hour.

Parfitt took his personal tally to four, Jake Ballinger got two, with Daniel Russell and Tom Norris taking the final score to 8-3.

Top of the table Thorne must have fancied their chances at Moorends against an Easington side whose start to the season might kindly be described as mixed, but were turned over by the Eastenders who pulled off a creditable 4-1 win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Paul Wilkinson, Danny Barron and an own goal gave the visitors a three-goal cushion by the break. Dean Cuttell pulled one back for Thorne with 20 minutes left, but sub Luke Brumhead completed the scoring with 10 minutes to go.

Phoenix are the division’s new leaders after a racing start at home to Ollerton Town.

One up after 15 seconds and three in front by 10 minutes thanks to strikes from James Lawton, Sam Hadfield and Steve McDonnell, the home side held their lead till the latter stages when Kyle Clarkson and Kyle Ludlow’s guaranteed an interesting last few minutes, the home side holding on for a 3-2 win.

Bilsthorpe found their shooting boots against Welbeck Welfare, Paul Leatherland, Dominic Hammond, Joseph Costello, Andres Velez-Pina, Ashley Solomon and an own goal giving Bilsthorpe a six goal boost.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dronfield Town Reserves picked up their first win of the season as they shaded the game against a young Newark Town team 3-2.

Wayne Garrity and Ash Rycroft were early scorers for Dronfield, Dom Swingler pulling one back, before Matt Hague restored the two goal advantage on the stroke of half time.

Swingler scored a second half way through the second half, but despite close calls at both ends, there were no more goals.